Negative prefixes

Negative statements are the opposite of affirmative statements. In English, one way to make negative statements is by adding negative prefixes to nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Here are some English negative prefixes: a–, dis–, il–, im–, in-, ir–, non–, un–.

For example, the prefix un- can be attached to the adjective happy to create the negative adjective unhappy. Or you can use the negative adverb not. Note that there is no difference in meaning between these two forms.

affirmative

negative

negative prefix

not

Tom is happy.

Tom is unhappy.

Tom is not happy.

Words that take a– as a negative prefix always begin with a consonant.

affirmative

negative

political

apolitical

sexual

asexual

theist

atheist

Words that take dis– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a consonant.

affirmative

negative

agree

disagree

comfort

discomfort

mount

dismount

orient

disorient

Words that take il– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter l.

affirmative

negative

legal

illegal

legible

illegible

literate

illiterate

logical

illogical

Words that take im– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter m or p.

affirmative

negative

mobile

immobile

moral

immoral

perfect

imperfect

possible

impossible

Words that take in– as a negative prefix can begin with a vowel (except i or u) or a consonant.

affirmative

negative

accurate

inaccurate

eligible

ineligible

organic

inorganic

decent

indecent

sane

insane

Note: There are many words that begin with in– that are not words with a negative prefix. For example:

word

does not mean

incline

not cline

indulge

not dulge

insist

not sist

invoke

not voke

Words that take ir– as a negative prefix always begin with the letter r.

affirmative

negative

rational

irrational

reconcilable

irreconcilable

regular

irregular

resistible

irresistible

Words that take non– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or a consonant.

affirmative

negative

conformist

nonconformist

essential

nonessential

fiction

nonfiction

sense

nonsense

Words that take un– as a negative prefix may begin with a vowel or consonant.

affirmative

negative

able

unable

interesting

uninteresting

usual

unusual

comfortable

uncomfortable

helpful

unhelpful

prepared

unprepared

Remember, not all words that appear to have a negative prefix are negative.

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Many English speakers do not know the difference between who and whom. In some places, it hardly matters, because using who when you should use whom is so common that it’s not even considered much of a mistake. But for those who want to know the difference between who and whom, here is an explanation